Most Anticipated Korean Films of 2016

Hwang Jung-min, left, and Kang Dong-won in a scene from “A Violent Prosecutor” / Courtesy of Showbox

• Published Jan 10, 2016 2:59 PM KST
• Updated Jan 10, 2016 2:59 PM KST

By Jason Bechervaise

Now that 2015 is over, following another strong year for Korean films, which saw admissions surpass 100 million for the fourth consecutive year, focus has shifted on to what the year of 2016 has to offer.

With new films from two renowned Korean auteurs: Park Chan-wook and Kim Jee-woon along with Na Hong-jin’s eagerly anticipated “Gokseong” and Hong Sang-soo’s untiled 18th feature, Korean films should generate much interest both locally and internationally this year.

Other established filmmakers such as Kim Seong-hun, Yeon Sang-ho, Lee Yoon-ki and Hur Jin-ho also have their latest features hitting screens this year.

The following films are expected to be released over the next twelve months. Titles are subject to change.

The Handmaid

Following the critical and commercial success of “Old boy” that helped put Korean film on the map, Park Chan-wook has become a major figure in Korean cinema. Adapted from the British novel, “Fingersmith” (2002) by Sarah Waters, “The Handmaid” is his first Korean film in seven years (“Thirst” (2009)).

Starring Ha Jung-woo, Kim Min-hee and unknown actress Kim Tae-ri, Park has moved the book’s Victorian setting to Japan and Korea in the 1930s where a swindler hires a young pick pocket to pose as a handmaid to steal the fortune of an affluent woman from a noble class.

Secret Agent

Also one of Korea’s most prominent filmmakers, Kim Jee-woon (“A Bittersweet Life,” “The Good, The Bad, The Weird”) has developed a strong reputation for his use of style. Much like Park Chan-wook’s “Stoker,” his last film “The Last Stand” was a Hollywood film.

His latest feature is being financed and to be distributed by Warner Bros., its first Korean-language production. Much like Park’s “The Handmaid”, it’s also set in the 1930s and stars Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo about an anti-Japanese independence organization. Having wrapped up filming in Shanghai, it’s now being shot in Korea.

Gokseong

Initially planned for a release last year, Na Hong-jin’s (“The Chaser,” “The Yellow Sea”) shooting took place over a six-month period, which is longer than most Korean films. Often relentless in his approach to film set-pieces, Na’s latest production stars Kwak Do-won as a detective and Hwang Jung-min as a shaman as they investigate a mysterious rumour that continues to spread.

Backed by Fox International Productions (FIP) and distributed by Fox Korea, the studio will be hoping that it fares much better at the box office than the three other films they produced: “Running Man”, “Slow Video” and “Intimate Enemies” that all failed to leave a lasting impression.

Tunnel

Kim Seong-hun encountered significant critical and commercial success in 2014 following the release of “A Hard Day.” Amassing over 3.4 million admissions fuelled by strong word-of-mouth, the witty and engrossing thriller was also invited to the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

Kim’s new film features two distinguished names: Ha Jung-woo and Bae Doo-na. Ha plays an unsuccessful car’s sales man who gets trapped in a tunnel after it collapses, while Bae takes on the role as his wife. The film also stars prolific character actor Oh Dal-su as a rescue worker.

Train Via Busan

Director Yeon Sang-ho solidified his status as one of the leading figures in Korean animation following his acclaimed sophomore feature “The Fake” that secured numerous festival invitations repeating the success of his debut “The King of Pigs.”

However, “Train via Busan,” marks his first live action film that is a sequel to his third animated feature “Seoul Station” (still to be released). Following on from the events in the animation where an unknown virus spreads at Seoul Station, the sequel starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yoo-mi and Ma Dong-seok takes the story on board a KTX train where people try to escape to Busan.

Other Films

There are a number of notable features to hit local screens this year. Korean war epic “Operation Chromite” directed by Lee Jae-han (“71: Into the Fire”) has generated headlines because it will star Hollywood actor Liam Neeson in a supporting role as U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur. He will act alongside Korean stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Beom-soo about a covert “X-ray” operation that preceded the Incheon Landing that become a turning point in the war.

The colonial period is expected to feature heavily in films this year. Along with “The Handmaid” and “Secret Agent,” Park Heung-sik’s “Haeuhhwa” and Hur Jin-ho’s “Princess Deokhye” are also set during this period and should hit screens his year.

Films expected to be released early this year include Lee Yoon-ki’s “A Man and a Woman” starring Jeon Do-yeon and Gong Yoo while Lee Il-hyeong’s prison thriller “A Violent Prosecutor” featuring Hwang Jung-min alongside Gang Dong-won hits screens on February 4 in time for the lunar new year.

This year’s releases also include Hong Sang-soo’s untiled 18th feature, Park Kwang-hyun’s (his first film since “Welcome to Dongmakgol”) “Fabricated City,” Kim Sung-su’s crime thriller “Asura” starring Jung Woo-sung and Hwang Jung-min, Lee Kyung-mi’s (“Crush and Blush”) ”Home Sweet Home” and Kwak Kyung-taek’s (“The Classified File”) thriller “RV: Resurrected Victims.”

Jason Bechervaise is a film columnist for The Korea Times. He can be reached at jase@koreanfilm.org.uk.